Portuguese Sinclair User
4 messages · 2004-01-20 → 2004-03-03 · Yahoo Group era · View archive on archive.org
Participants: Bruno Florindo, Luis Alberto D'Ardis, Jarek Adamski, Jack Boatwright
Preserved from the Timex/Sinclair 2068 Yahoo Group (2001–2019), which is no longer online. Text reproduced from the archive.org archive; email addresses masked.
Messages
1. Portuguese Sinclair User
Bruno Florindo · Tue, 20 Jan 2004 16:17
I'm living in the US since 1995 and I work as a pastor, but my past (1987-1992) is filled with sinclair memories. My cousin (www.ruimac.com) had a Timex 2048 with FDD. We knew (and still knows) how to program in Basic & Machine code, but I was the Sinclair fanatic. I had like 7 spectrums, from the 48k to the +3, and more than 3000 games, programs, utilitys, magazines, etc. I left everything in Portugal and my parents sold everything to one of my old friends (I never tought that I would want it again). But in 1998 I discovered that the internet was full of Spectrum stuff, and now I found the Timex 2068 group. Since then I like to maintain contact with some people, and I like to know what's happening in the sinclair scene. I don't have time to program any more, and I don't own a Timex. I use emulators in my pc. The reason I entered in this group is because I'm trying to find someone that could teach me how to build a ZX Spectrum +2 or +3 that could work with a NTSC Tv. I believe that it's possible to modify the PAL TV modulator (that produces 25lines) and replace it somehow with the TV modulator from the Timex 2068, or maybe it's possible to build some kind of composite output, insted of looking for a TV with RGB input and multinorm options. I don't know if there's someone in this group that understand what I'm talking about, but I hope there'll be. In europe nobody understands or cares :-(
I know that I could buy a TS2068, but they're too expensive in Ebay (overpriced), and what I really want is a 128k +2.
My dream is something that it's probably impossible. This is it:
Model: Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2 128k (not 2a)
Video Output: switch option for TV, RGB, VGA or COMPOSITE output
COM and PARALLEL ports
I would like to have the capability to send/receive files/data
between a PC and a Sinclair machine, using a program designed exclusively
for that (one for each computer).
I'm always traveling to another city/state. I can't afford to move all the time carrying a Multinorm TV or special monitor. Any ideas?
2. Re: [ts2068] Portuguese Sinclair User
Luis Alberto D'Ardis · Tue, 17 Feb 2004 18:16
hello my friend, i m [email] from ts 2068 user group, you wanna transform the pal tv out put to a ntsc out put, if nobody replays to you may be you can send an e mail "in spanish" to [email] with subjet "para oscar" tell him you have spoken with "Mr. spectrum" and tell him what you need, hw knows how to do that cos he did it all the time in a computer store in Argentina's capital but to the inverse with ts2068 ntsc to pal and with zx 128k +2 from pal b to pal n. may be he cant reply cos he's a very bussy man .. but... who knows may be you can find a great solution. regards.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bruno Florindo
To: [email]
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 9:17 PM
Subject: [ts2068] Portuguese Sinclair User
I'm living in the US since 1995 and I work as a pastor, but my past (1987-1992) is filled with sinclair memories. My cousin (www.ruimac.com) had a Timex 2048 with FDD. We knew (and still knows) how to program in Basic & Machine code, but I was the Sinclair fanatic. I had like 7 spectrums, from the 48k to the +3, and more than 3000 games, programs, utilitys, magazines, etc. I left everything in Portugal and my parents sold everything to one of my old friends (I never tought that I would want it again). But in 1998 I discovered that the internet was full of Spectrum stuff, and now I found the Timex 2068 group. Since then I like to maintain contact with some people, and I like to know what's happening in the sinclair scene. I don't have time to program any more, and I don't own a Timex. I use emulators in my pc. The reason I entered in this group is because I'm trying to find someone that could teach me how to build a ZX Spectrum +2 or +3 that could work with a NTSC Tv. I believe that it's possible to modify the PAL TV modulator (that produces 25lines) and replace it somehow with the TV modulator from the Timex 2068, or maybe it's possible to build some kind of composite output, insted of looking for a TV with RGB input and multinorm options. I don't know if there's someone in this group that understand what I'm talking about, but I hope there'll be. In europe nobody understands or cares :-(
I know that I could buy a TS2068, but they're too expensive in Ebay (overpriced), and what I really want is a 128k +2.
My dream is something that it's probably impossible. This is it:
Model: Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2 128k (not 2a)
Video Output: switch option for TV, RGB, VGA or COMPOSITE output
COM and PARALLEL ports
I would like to have the capability to send/receive files/data
between a PC and a Sinclair machine, using a program designed exclusively
for that (one for each computer).
I'm always traveling to another city/state. I can't afford to move all the time carrying a Multinorm TV or special monitor. Any ideas?
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ts2068/
b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email]
c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
3. Re: Portuguese Sinclair User
Jarek Adamski · Mon, 01 Mar 2004 21:49
Hi!
--- In [email], Bruno Florindo wrote:
> The reason I entered in this group is because I'm trying to
> find someone that could teach me how to build a ZX Spectrum
> +2 or +3 that could work with a NTSC Tv.
It is impossible (unless you completely redesign hardware).
The ULA of ZX Spectrum generates 312 lines per frame,
while in NTSC there are 262.5 lines per half-screen.
> I believe that it's possible to modify the PAL TV modulator
> (that produces 25lines)
There are 50 frames in PAL, while 60 in NTSC (only odd
half-screens, unlike normal TV with 25 or 30 full-screens).
The frames are generated by ULA, not by color coder or
modulator (changing the color coder can convert between
PAL and SECAM, but NTSC is too far from them).
The ULA of Timex has one input leg that switches it
between PAL and NTSC. But this applies to Timex only.
> and replace it somehow with the TV modulator from the
> Timex 2068,
You would have to replace ULA of ZX Spectrum with the one
of Timex... It is easier to replace whole ZX Spectrum with
whole Timex. :-)
> or maybe it's possible to build some kind of composite
> output, insted of looking for a TV with RGB input and
> multinorm options.
The difference between PAL and NTSC is also in the RGB
signal - so any CV / RF doesen't change it.
> In europe nobody understands or cares :-(
Yes, we don't have here "Never Twice Same Colors"
problems... :-)
> I know that I could buy a TS2068, but they're too
> expensive in Ebay (overpriced), and what I really
> want is a 128k +2.
You could also buy TC2068 or TC2048 in Europe, then
upgrade it to NTSC. I'm not sure if the CV made with
the MC1377P will be correct NTSC signal, but you can
always add an external NTSC RGB coder.
> My dream is something that it's probably impossible.
> This is it:
>
> Model: Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2 128k (not 2a)
> Video Output: switch option for TV, RGB, VGA or
> COMPOSITE output
You could buy a device called scandoubler - please
search the market.
I have a AVerMedia JOYTV (http://www.aver.com) that
allows me to connect ZX Spectrum range computers to
SVGA monitor (with some loss of quality). It isn't
able to convert PAL to NTSC, but NTSC to SVGA should.
(Perhaps they have other products.)
When searching a converter ask if it removes lines
from top/bottom of screen, not from the middle. And
test how it works before purchase.
> COM and PARALLEL ports
I have a solution to connect ISA Multi I/O card
(from PC XT), but unfortunately still in development
state.
> I would like to have the capability to send/receive
> files/data between a PC and a Sinclair machine,
> using a program designed exclusively for that (one
> for each computer).
I made kind of such solution. Living in Portugal you
should heard about the Timex Disk System that uses
Timex FDD 3/3000 computer as floppy disk controller
and Timex Interface M-397 connected to ZX Spectrum.
I upgraded the original Timex Interface to 8kB RAM
and 32kB ROM, what allowed me to install my operating
system inside it (beside TOS). Also, I made a cable
that makes possible to replace Timex FDD 3/3000 with
PC or Amiga. Finally, the dedicated file server
software makes a "disc drive" for ZX Spectrum from
a PC or Amiga.
Details are on http://zx.yarek.pl/eTF-en.html
> I'm always traveling to another city/state. I
> can't afford to move all the time carrying a
> Multinorm TV or special monitor. Any ideas?
If you have access to SVGA monitor, the scandoubler
shoul be fine. Another solution is TV card for PC.
If you use a notebook, it usually doesn't have SVGA
input and I'm not sure if TV cards are available
for notebooks.
Regards,
--
Jarek Adamski
ul.Sobieskiego 10A/5
99-200 Poddebice
Poland
tel. +48603445345
mailto:[email]
Do you wish to upgrade an 8bit computer?
see http://zx.yarek.com and contact me.
4. Larken Disk Interface on eBay
Jack Boatwright · Wed, 3 Mar 2004 08:07:
FYI
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2791357343&category=1247&sspagename=STRK%3AMEAWA%3AIT&rd=1
Indexed under
Timex Computer (European: TC2048/3256) · Disk & floppy systems (Larken, AERCO, Oliger) · For sale, wanted & collections